Modular Measurement Housing for Drill-String Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current measurement systems for drilling wells face inefficiencies and inaccuracies due to the need for frequent recalibration when switching between different drilling tools, which is time-consuming and often impossible at the drill site, especially when dealing with varying tool sizes and environments.
Innovation Solution
A modular measurement system with a housing that includes sensors and electronics, allowing for calibration to be performed once and stored, enabling the system to be transferred between drilling collars of different sizes without recalibration, using a calibration apparatus to account for housing-to-housing and source-to-source variations, and maintaining accurate data transmission and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measurement devices are calibrated with respect to each drilling tool before application, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the time required for configuration increases and on-site calibration becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement device is calibrated in advance in a laboratory setting before being attached to any drilling tool. This preliminary calibration establishes baseline measurements that can be used across multiple tools without requiring on-site recalibration, thus improving measurement accuracy while reducing configuration time at the drill site.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process creates a reference model or copy of the measurement device's characteristics that can be replicated across different drilling tools. This allows the same calibrated measurement device to be applied to various tools without losing measurement accuracy, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site calibration.
2Measurement precision
If measurement devices are calibrated for each specific drilling tool, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the system increases due to multiple calibration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement device is designed with universal calibration characteristics that allow it to maintain accuracy across multiple drilling tools without requiring tool-specific calibration procedures. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity by eliminating the need for separate calibration processes for each tool while preserving measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process accounts for variations in drilling tool parameters by establishing a flexible calibration model that can adapt to different tool characteristics without requiring complete recalibration. This approach maintains measurement accuracy while simplifying the calibration system by using parameter adjustments rather than full recalibration procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If calibration is performed at the drill site, then adaptability to specific drilling conditions is improved, but the loss of time increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Calibration is performed in advance in a controlled laboratory environment before the measurement device is deployed to the drill site. This preliminary action ensures the device is ready for immediate use upon arrival, eliminating time losses associated with on-site calibration while maintaining adaptability through pre-established calibration parameters that can account for various drilling conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for operating the apparatus provide a modular unit of hardware to make measurements in a well. The modular unit may include a housing arranged for placement in a drill-string element, where the housing includes a sensor and is structured such that the housing is transferable to another drill-string element without a calibration during or after the transfer. The drill-string elements associated with the transfer may be of different sizes.